Improvement in portable fences



P. HUFFMAN. Portable-Pence.

No. 214,146. Patented April 8,1879.

N PETERS, PHOT0-L|THOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON. n C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

PHILIP HUFFMAN, OF NEOGA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO J. A. ELDER,OF PRAIRIE CITY, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,146, dated April 8,1879; application filed January 15, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP HUFFMAN, of Neoga, Cumberland county,Illinois, have invented a Portable Fence, of which the following is thespecification.

My invention is a portable fence, constructed, as fully describedhereinafter, to secure a broad, firm bearing, resist shocks, accommodateitself to all forms of ground, and so as to be easily erected orremoved.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a viewillustrating an old form of standard. Fig. 2is aperspective view of thefence, and Fig. 3 a view showing one of the panels.

. The fence consists of panels A, stringers B, and brace-standards 0.Each panel consists of strips or bars a and tie-pieces b, one of thebars having a notch, 00, at the lower edge, near each end.

Each brace-standard consists of a cross-piece,

. c and two dia onals d d, pivoted so as to play on the pivots at y, tothe opposite ends of the cross-piece, and'extending below the same, asshown. The brace-standards being set up, the panels are applied at rightangles thereto, the ends of the bars a of one panel overlapping those ofthe next panel, as shown in Fig. 2, and the notches a: in the bars ofeach panel receiving the upper edge of the cross-piece c.

The diagonals (Z d are then adjusted to cross each other between theadjacent strips b b, Fig. 1, which prevent the standard from falling toeither side.

After the panels and standards are all in position, the stringers B areplaced between the crossed ends of the diagonals, when their weight willforce down both diagonals of each standard, so as to bear on and claspthe upper rails, a, firmly, holding the panels in an upright position.

Should the fence be shaken, the ground sink, or any other disturbanceoccur, the weight of the stringers will keep the diagonals closely incontact with the panels, so that there can be no loosening of theparts.

As the ends of the diagonals hold the panels up above the ground, theywill not suffer from rot, no stones are required, and no preparation ofthe ground is needed.

It will be seen that the fence can be erected without nailing, that thestandards and panels brace each other most efi'ectively, and that thewhole can be readily taken apart and again erected with but little laboror loss of time.

I am aware that standards 0, Fig. 1, consisting of diagonals and across-piece nailed rigidly together, have been used; but it will beapparent that if any part of such fence becomes loose it can have noself-tightening action to correct the evil. Neither are the standardsbraced and supported as in the fence above described by the panels andtheir strips I claim- A portable fence, eonsistin g of diagonal bars (1cl, pivoted near their lower ends to the crossbar a, the notched panelsA, having uprights 1'), between which the diagonal bars extend, asshown, and the rider B, arranged between the disconnected crossed endsof the diagonal bars and clamping the same to the panels, all as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIP HUFFMAN.

Witnesses:

ALEX. HUGHES, W. W. WIKOFF.

